Great news for Tennessee families and child care providers! Lawmakers have unanimously passed two game-changing child care bills — HB105/SB1286 and HB106/SB1288 — designed to make child care more accessible across the state. Governor Bill Lee is expected to sign them into law soon. These bills will pump more funding into child care services and clear up confusion around licensing exemptions for casual care.
Big Wins for Child Care in Tennessee
More Funding = More Child Care Options
The first bill, HB105/SB1286, is all about getting more money into child care providers’ hands. Thanks to this bill, the Child Care Improvement Fund now includes TDHS Non-Profit/Employer Workforce (NEW) Care Partnership grants. What’s the big deal? Well, before, only non-profits could apply. But now, all licensed child care providers can team up with employers and apply for funds to expand capacity, upgrade facilities, and help working families find reliable care.
Click here to learn more about the TDHS NEW Care Partnership Grants
More Flexibility for Casual Child Care
Not all child care needs to fit into a traditional licensed model, and HB106/SB1288 clears up what’s exempt from licensing. Now, families and providers can easily understand what falls outside the licensing rules — no more guesswork!
Here’s what’s changing:
- Parent’s night out events (including fun lock-ins) are officially good to go
- Camps aren’t just for summer anymore — exemptions now cover fall and spring school breaks, too
- Clarified exemptions for casual, educational and recreational programs — because sometimes parents just need a little extra help
- TDHS will update its website with the full list of exempt programs before the bill goes into effect on July 1st
Tennessee Leaders Are All In
“These bills are a big step forward for child care in Tennessee,” said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “With more funding and clearer regulations, families will have better access to safe, high-quality child care.”
Jude White, Assistant Commissioner of Child Care and Community Services, added, “By expanding funding opportunities and simplifying licensing rules, we’re helping providers thrive and giving parents more child care options that fit their needs.”
This is a huge win for Tennessee families and child care providers.
